If You Want To Restore A Classic Maserati, You Can Buy This One For Less Than $1 Million

Many classic cars that come up for auction are impeccable
examples of their breed: gorgeous, shiny, expensive.

Just check out this Ferrari, which was the belle of the ball at
this year's Concours d'Elegance at Pebble Beach.

Gorgeous, shiny,
expensive.Ferrari/Joe
DeMatio

This 1956 Maserati AG6/2000 Coupe is certainly expensive and, to
the right eye, gorgeous. But it isn't yet shiny. I you want to
make it shiny, you're looking at parting with $750-950,000
because that will be the price estimate when it goes up for
auction early next year in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Obviously, it's not in pristine condition, but then again, it's
almost 60 years old. The lines and bones still look pretty good,
even if the red exterior has contended with the ravages of time.

The whole point here is to attract a collector who can appreciate
with car's history — it was designed by the Italian firm
Allemano, which faded away in the mid-1960s. It's a reminder that
the Maserati brand has been around since the early 20th century,
with a legacy that stretches much farther back than the current
lineup of luxury cars now on sale in the U.S.

And if that collector appreciates the history, he or she can
commit to a restoration project, which would could cost tens if
not hundred of thousands more that the eventual selling price.

Personally, I love to get a look at classic finds like this
before they're restored (although seeing them after they've been
brought back to their former glory is plenty exciting). It's a
reminder that classic-car archeology is still possible — that
beautiful rides like this can still be unearthed.